Banjul - 134 returned migrants and youth recently graduated from a series of vocational training programs implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the framework of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration.

On 20^th December, 34 returnees successfully completed a three-month poultry training program, organized in partnership with EMPAS Poultry Processing Company. Following the graduation, each will receive a package consisting of 500 day-old chicks, chicken feeds, medication, equipment and the construction of a 10x50m chicken house.

18 of the graduates are members of the Gambia Returnees from the Backway Association and will be pooling their resources together to form a collective agri-business project. IOM supported the construction of the group’s poultry farm in Berending, North Bank Region.

The poultry training program forms part of reintegration assistance provided through the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration—which has supported the voluntary return of over 4,500 stranded Gambian migrants since 2017.

Meanwhile, on 18^th and 20^th December, 100 youth graduated from a pilot vocational training program aimed at equipping young Gambians with employment and entrepreneurship skills as alternatives to irregular migration.

Lasting 6 to 12 weeks each, the courses will see 50 young men and 50 young women learn both technical and entrepreneurial skills, including business administration, financial management and customer service.

Four separate courses were held at the Gambia Telecommunications and Multimedia Institute (GTMI): satellite installation and laptop repairs in the West Coast Region; and solar panel installation and mobile phone repairs in the Upper River Region. The courses were designed after a baseline assessment to identify market gaps, demands and opportunities in the two regions.

Each of the students received a toolbox to enhance their ability to engage in income-generating activities. In addition, IOM will establish a revolving micro-credit fund which the students who develop viable business proposals after the training will have the opportunity to access. IOM is in the process of establishing a similar program in the North Bank Region.

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For more information, please contact Miko Alazas, at IOM The Gambia; Tel: +220 330 3168, Email: aalazas@iom.int